8 Podcasts That Will Help You Up Your Content Game Right Now

Whether you’re an author, blogger, professional marketer, or contributor to a fledgling startup, you know there’s a ton to keep up with. There’s more news and information available than any of us could digest in a lifetime. How do you know what content is the most pertinent, and what are the best go-to sources? We created this list to make sure you don’t miss the good stuff: emerging trends, new innovations, and the kind of news that can force you to turn on a dime. Here’s our roundup of the top eight podcasts you should be listening to right now to help you up your content game.

1. The Future of Everything by theWall Street Journal

If there’s one thing we can accurately predict about the future of business and ecommerce, it’s that we can’t accurately predict anything about it. The Wall Street Journal‘s The Future of Everything—produced by the team that publishes the magazine of the same name—aims to give us glimpses into what’s ahead through short (15 minutes, on average) episodes that bring you up to speed on everything from manufactured meat to Bitcoin. If you want to stay on the cutting edge of technology, commerce, and the future of business, enjoy the speedy delivery of The Future of Everything.

2. StartUp Podcast by Gimlet Media

What’s it really like to start a company? StartUp might be one of the only podcasts out there that can truly answer that question. One of the centerpieces of Gimlet’s podcast lineup, StartUp is published in seasons of episodes that document the successes and failings of different CEOs and companies. One episode covers the rise and demise of Grooveshark, a web-based music streaming service that was wildly successful and subsequently sued by pretty much every major music label—Warner Music Group, Universal, etc. Alongside episodes that detail the trials and tribulations of other businesses, Gimlet also offers episodes that are open windows to its own business journey, with titles like “How to Name Your Company,” and “We Made a Mistake.” The show’s elements work in tandem to create a podcast feed that is wholly unique and a requisite listen for the budding entrepreneur.

3. The Pitch by Gimlet Media

You know a media company is making waves with what they do when you feel compelled to mention two of their podcasts in one roundup. The fact is that StartUp and The Pitch are really unparalleled in the world of startup-centric podcasts. Where StartUp is seasons of documentary-style episodes, The Pitch is the reality TV version of what goes on in startup land. Each episode takes you to the moment when real entrepreneurs pitch to real investors, and the creators don’t stop recording for a moment. (Surprisingly, only one episode has an explicit rating.) The Pitch is a raw view of what happens when entrepreneurs put their ideas on the line, and what happens when that moment implodes.

4. Planet Money by NPR

“Imagine you could call up a friend and say, ‘Meet me at the bar and tell me what’s going on with the economy.’ Now imagine that’s actually a fun evening.” That’s how NPR describes its critically acclaimed podcast Planet Money, currently perched at the top of the chart in the Business category on iTunes. Each episode is extraordinarily informative, and so entertaining you’ll find yourself hooked in by your earbuds before you can say “compound interest.” Top-ranked episodes ask pressing, sometimes seemingly bizarre questions—like “Is the NCAA An Illegal Cartel?”—and offer insider glimpses into Supreme Court decisions, capitalism in North Korea (where it’s not supposed to exist), and a Finnish basic income experiment. Your attention is well worth the investment.

5. AskPat by Pat Flynn

Pat Flynn, one of our longest-standing clients and the reigning crash test dummy of online business, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the online business world. Whether the topic’s SEO (search engine optimization), keyword research, audience engagement, starting a podcast, affiliate marketing, or landing pages, Pat has a comprehensive artillery box of online tools and resources to help you level up your online business. Shoulder to shoulder with Pat’s award-winning main podcast, the Smart Passive Income Podcast, AskPat is a daily show in a question-and-answer format. Pat will hit 1,000 episodes this month, and there’s a ton of information available; you can search by keyword through all 1,000 episodes on Pat’s site.

6. Smart Author with Mark Coker

If you’ve heard of Smashwords—the website that converts manuscripts into ebook formats for a plethora of devices—you’ve probably heard of its founder, Mark Coker, recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of self-publishing’s largest forces. He’s an online-publishing guru who’s devoted to bashing down the artifice of the publishing and editing worlds, so that writers can appeal directly to their readers. Coker effectively democratized publishing with the 2008 launch of Smashwords, so we were excited to learn about the launch of his new podcast, Smart Author.

In Smart Author, Coker takes listeners through a step-by-step guide to self-publishing. But he takes it a step further, offering a wealth of advanced tools, and tips and tricks for using those tools. Smart Author is Coker doing what he does best: teaching writers how to successfully publish ebooks. If you’ve never published before and want to go the indie route, this is the listen for you.

If you’re at all involved in the content marketing space, even if you’re a part-time blogger just trying to brush up your chops, check out PNR: This Old Marketing from the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) Podcast Network. The show’s hosts, Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose, are revered in the content marketing space, and started This Old Marketing to discuss emerging trends in the field, alongside a masterclass in content strategy for businesses. Pulizzi and Rose manage to inject the show with plenty of lightheartedness while remaining informative and instructive. Keep your content strategy polished and stay ahead of the game: subscribe to This Old Marketing.

8. Hyperlink Radio

Of course, we couldn’t do a roundup of business podcasts without throwing our own hat in the ring. HyperlinkRadio is an eclectic podcast that acts as an audio companion to our in-house magazine, Hyperlink. The show explores how we connect with each other, with our technology, and with the world around us. Season 1 covers a breadth of topics, from the culture of commerce itself to how to sustainably scale up a small business, and even provides a practical guide to the heated complexity around net neutrality laws. We’ve balanced out the heavy-hitters of the show with some lighter topics too: how to throw a dinner party when your guests have varying dietary restrictions, and what podcast, TV, and book trends are emerging. Stay connected and get to know the team a little better—have a listen to Hyperlink Radio.